Drawer

ABSTRACT

A cabinet drawer, complete except for the drawer front is fabricated as a single flat plastic molding, with the drawer sides and rear being initially flat and coplanar with the bottom to permit shipping in a minimum volume condition. A material such as polypropylene permits the various panels to pivot about thinwalled hinge line from their flat molded position to their mutually perpendicular functional configuration. Molded-in tongue and groove formations interlock to maintain the drawer in its final configuration.

United States Patent 11 1 [22] Filed:' Apr. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,262

- 521 US. Cl.- 312/330; 217/65, 220/31 s,

312/257 R [51] Int. Cl A47p 88/00 Field of Search 312/330, 261, 257 R; 220/31 S, D16. 12, DIG. 14; 229/31; 217/65; 9 156/304 [56] 1 I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,318 1/1939 Kryder 220/1310. 14 2,149,882 3/1939 Clements... 312/330 2,687,157 8/1954 Cowan 220/DlG. 12 2,985,075 312/330 5/1961 Knutsson-Hall....

MacDonald 14 1 Sept. 18, 1973 DRAWER 3,099,051 7/1963 Qhenoweth 287 54 0 ,186, 7 7 196 d "'0' [75] 111191.119 Macmnld Metammag 285 :6: 11/1962 2: 3,421,658 1/1969 Cooksey 220/31 s 3,437,392 4/1969 l-lilfinger "229/31 R [73] Ass'gnee' g x i' gg Bmlde 3,539,425 11/1970 Marburg 312/330 SM l-limelreich 312/330 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Richard D. Grauer [5 7] ABSTRACT A cabinet drawer, complete except for the drawer front is fabricated as a single flat plastic molding, with the drawer sides and rear being initially fiat and coplanar with the bottom to permit shipping in a minimum volume condition. A material such as polypropylene permits the various panels to pivotabout thin-walled hinge line from their flat molded position to their mutually perpendicular functional configuration. Moldedin tongue and groove formations interlock to maintain the drawer in its final configuration.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEN 8 I975 SHEEI 1 OF 2 PATENTED E 3.759.600

saw 2 OF 2 DRAWER.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTIONYOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary. perspective view of a rear corner of a drawer fabricated inaccordance with this invention, shown in its initially flat-as-fabricated configuration.

FIG. '2 is a view similar to'FIG. l, but showing the rear panel of the drawer pivoted to its final position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, butfishowing-the next step in the sequence of placing the drawer in its functional configuration, after the drawer side panel has been pivoted to its final position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing thecorner of the drawer in its final configuration, with the locking tab secured in place.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation viewed in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation viewed in the direction of arrows 66 of FIG. 1. g 1

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation viewed in the direction of arrows 7-7 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention described below involves the fabrication of a single molded plastic drawer element which includes the bottom, two sides and rear panels of the drawer. This element is molded in a flat coplanar condition, as if thetwd' 'sides and rear of the drawer had been pivoted downwardly along the line at which their respective lower edges join thebottom panel. This drawer element does not include the drawer front, which it is contemplated would be separately formed and connected to the disclosed drawer element by means beyond the scope of this invention.

Thus, what is involved here is a flat molded plastic part approximately 24 inches long, 14 to 24 inches wide (depending upon the width of the drawer), and generally about 0.150 inches thick.

The only portion of the drawer element with which.

this invention is concerned is the rear corner of the drawer, where provision must be made for interlocking the side and rear panels after they are folded up to their functional mutually perpendicular position with respect to the drawer bottom panel. Accordingly, FIG. 1

of the drawings is a view of the left rear comer portion ure. FIGS. 2,3 and 4'show successive stages of the ass'embling of the drawer, with the rear panel 14 and then side panel 12 being folded upwardly to the final assembled position of F1634, wherein the left rear cornrof the drawer is viewed in perspective from a point outside of and slightly above such corner.

7 As best shown in FIG. 5, the construction is generally a'simple flat panel, with a flexible thin-walled hinge line 16 joining the bottom and side panels 10, 12, respectively. A'suitable material for the present application is polypropylene, which combines the desired strength, rigidity and flexibility in thin sections. The hinge lines, such as hinge line 16, may be fabricated of a reduced thickness of approximately .025 inches.

As best shown in FIG. 6, a similar hinge line 18 joins the bottom panel and rear panel portions 10, 14, respectively; As best shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, back or rear panel 14 is provided with an upstanding bottom flange 20 running closely adjacent to hinge line 18 across the full width of the drawer, and is further provided with similar upstanding side flanges 22 along each lateral edge of such panel. Bottom flange 20 nests flush into recess 24 along the rear upper face of bottom panel 10 when the drawer is in its fully assembled condition, as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, side flanges 22 will nest flush into recesses 26 provided along the rear portion of side panel 12, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. These flanges serve to reinforce the assembled construction, and provide a bearing or stop face to prevent overbending in the inward direction of the various panels.

The panels are interlocked together in their assembled condition by a series of tongue-groove formations integrally molded into the drawer element. The first cooperating tongue-groove pair consists of tongue 28 on the outside face of rear panel side flange 22 and groove 30 on the upper inner face of side panel 12.

As shown by a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the first step of the assembly sequence is to fold upwardly and forwardly rear panel 14, which pivots about rear hinge line 18. Next, side panels 12 are folded upwardly and inwardly about their respective side hinge lines 16. As each side panel 12 approaches its ultimate vertical position, tongue 28 will snap into aligned groove 30 to establish an initial interlock between side panel 12 and rear panel 14. The drawer element is then in the condi tion shown in FIG. 3.

Assembly is completed by means of a side locking tab 32 which is integrally formed with the rear edge of each side panel 12 and joined thereto by a thin-walled hinge line 34. From the position of FIG. 3, side locking tab 32 is folded inwardly and forwardly about its hinge line 34, until groove 36 (see FIG. 2) on the inner face of tab 32 snaps over rearwardly projecting tongue 38 on the outside or rear face of back panel 14 (see FIG. 2). This step completes the assembly of the illustrated rear corner of the drawer.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, a pair of horizontal vertically spaced parallel ribs 40, 42 traverse the width of the outer or rear face of drawer rear panel 14. The vertical spacing between upper rib 40 and lower rib 42 is such as to permit locking tab 32 to snugly swing between them as it moves from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4. This feature, combined with the two pairs of tongue-groove connections 28, 30 and 36, 38,

' provide a firm and secure corner assembly.

3 First, rear panel 14 cannot move rearwardly relative to side panel 12, because such movement is resisted by tongue 28 (see FIG. 2). Rear panel 14 cannot move and because such movement would require that the upper comer of side locking tab 32 pass through upper rib 40 as it pivots about hinge line 16, which it cannot do as long as the tab is in the position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, movement of these panels in any directions is effectively resisted by the interlocking tongue and groove formations.

It will be appreciated that the drawer element described above can be shipped in a flat condition, that is, the condition shown in FIG. 1. At its ultimate destination, the drawer can be assembled rapidly by totally unskilled labor. i

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, the above specification is to be interpreted as illustrative of only a single operative embodiment of this invention, rather than in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim: I

l. A one-piece molded plastic drawer element adapted to be fabricated and shipped in a substantially flat and thin condition to minimize shipping volume, comprising:

a drawer bottom panel, a drawer back panel and two drawer side panels, each of said panels being rectangular in shape, said panels being fabricated as an integral molded element of a rigid plastic material having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections;

said back panel being joined along a first transversely extending edge to the rear edge of said bottom panel by a thin section capable of functioning as a hinge, said back panel having a rigid flange projecting upwardly from the inner face thereof along each of its two longitudinally extending edges and lying perpendicular to the plane of said back panel, each of said flanges having a transversely outwardly projecting tongue projecting therefrom, said back panel having further tongue means projecting downwardly from the rear face thereof adjacent each of said two longitudinally extending edges;

each of said side panels having first grooves means in the inner face thereof adjacent the rear lateral edge thereof, and further having a locking tab flexibly joined to said rear lateral edge by a thin section capable of functioning as a hinge, said locking tab having second groove means in the inner face thereof;

said tongues and grooves being dimensioned and ar ranged so that when said back panel is swung upward and inward to a position perpendicular with said bottom panel, said first groove means on each of said side panels will snugly engage one of said back panel flange tongues when said side panels are swung upward and inward to a position perpendicular to said bottom panel, and said locking tab grooves will snugly engage said further tongue means'when said locking tab is swung forwardly against said rear face of said back panel.

2. The drawer element of claim-l wherein said back panel, when in its upstanding assembled position, has a pair of vertically spaced rearwardly projecting ribs between which said locking tab is snugly received when in its assembled position.

3. In a one-piece molded plastic drawer element including rear, bottom and two opposite side panels initially formed as a single flat coplanar panel of rigid molded plastic having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections, said rear panel being integrally joined with said bottom panel by a thin-walled flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the rear transverse edge of said bottom panel with the lower transverse edge of said rear panel, and said side panels being integrally joined with the respective sides of said bottom panel by a thin-wall flexible'hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the respective longitudinal side edgesof said bottom panel with the longitudinal lower edges of said side panels, the improved means for interlocking said panels to each other in their mutually perpendicular functional position comprising:

a locking tab integrally formed with each of the side panels and joined to the rear edge thereof by a thinwall flexible hinge line extending transversely of the side panels when the side panels are in their initial flat coplanar position;

each of said locking tabs having first connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof;

each of the side panels having second connector means integrally formed in the inside face thereof and adjacent the rear edge thereof;

the rear panel having third connector means integrally formed on each lateral edge thereof, and fourth connector means integrally formed on the underside thereof adjacent each lateral edge thereof;

said second and third connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, when the side and rear panels are pivoted upwardly relative to the bottom panel about their respective hinge lines to their mutually perpendicular functional positions, said second and third connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a first connection to retain the panels in their functional position;

said first and fourth connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, following the making of said first connectiomsaid locking tabs may be pivoted about their respective hinge lines to a position against and behind the rear panel at which point said first and fourth connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a second connection to retain the panels in their functional positions.

4. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein saidfirst, second, third and fourth connector means comprise tongue and groove type connectors.

5. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein the rear panel is provided with vertically spaced projections between which said locking tabs snugly fit when fully connected to the rear panel, said projections preventing pivotal movement of the side panel relative to the bottom panel until said locking tab is first removed from therebetween.

6. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein the rear panel has reinforcing flanges integrally formed therewith along the lower and side edges of the inside face thereof, said flanges being perpendicular to the plane of the rear panel and rigidly non-pivotable with respect thereto, said flanges being positioned to engage the inner faces of the bottom and side panels in their functional position to act as bearing surfaces and stops for such panels.

7. In a one-piece molded plastic drawer element including rear, bottom and two opposite side panels initially formed of a single flat coplanar panel of rigid molded plastic having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections, said rear panel being integrally joined with said bottom panel by a thin-walled flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the rear transverse edge of said bottom panel with the lower transverse edge of said rear panel, and said side panels being integrally joined with the respective sides of said bottom panel by a thin-wall flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the respective longitudinal side edges of said bottom panel with the longitudinal lower edges of said side panels, the improved means for interlocking said panels to each other in their mutually perpendicular functional position comprising:

a locking tab integrally formed with each of the side panels and joined to the rear edge thereof by aithinwall flexible hinge line extending transversely of the side panels when the side panels are in their initial flat coplanar position;

the rear panel being provided with reinforcing flanges integrally formed therewith along the lower and side edges of the inside face v thereof, said flanges being perpendicular to the plane of the rear panel and rigidly non-pivotable with respect thereto;

each of said locking tabs having first connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof;

each of the side panels having second connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof and adjacent the rear edge thereof;

the rear panel having third connector means integrally formed on the outer face of eachof said side reinforcing flanges, and further having fourth connector means integrally formed on the underside thereof adjacent each lateral edge thereof;

said second and third connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, when the side and rear panels are pivoted upwardly relative to the bottom panel about their respective hinge lines to their mutually prependicular functional positions, said second and third connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a first connection to retain the panels in their functional positions;

said reinforcing flanges being positioned to engage the inner faces of the bottom and side panels in their functional position to act as bearing surfaces and stops for such panels;

and the rear panel being further provided with vertically spaced projections between which said locking tab snugly fits when fully connected to the rear panel, said projections preventing pivotal movement of the side panel relative to the bottom panel until said locking tab is first removed from therebetween.

8. The drawer element of claim 7 wherein said first,

second, third and fourth connector means comprise tongue and groove type connectors. 

1. A one-piece molded plastic drawer element adapted to be fabricated and shipped in a substantially flat and thin condition to minimize shipping volume, comprising: a drawer bottom panel, a drawer back panel and two drawer side panels, each of said panels being rectangular in shape, said panels being fabricated as an integral molded element of a rigid plastic material having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections; said back panel being joined along a first transversely extending edge to the rear edge of said bottom panel by a thin section capable of functioning as a hinge, said back panel having a rigid flange projecting upwardly from the inner face thereof along each of its two longitudinally extending edges and lying perpendicular to the plane of said back panel, each of said flanges having a transversely outwardly projecting tongue projecting therefrom, said back panel having further tongue means projecting downwardly from the rear face thereof adjacent each of said two longitudinally extending edges; each of said side panels having first grooves means in the inner face thereof adjacent the rear lateral edge thereof, and further having a locking tab flexibly joined to said rear lateral edge by a thin section capable of functioning as a hinge, said locking tab having second groove means in the inner face thereof; said tongues and grooves being dimensioned and arranged so that when said back panel is swung upward and inward to a position perpendicular with said bottom panel, said first groove means on each of said side panels will snugly engage one of said back panel flange tongues when said side panels are swung upward and inward to a position perpendicular to said bottom panel, and said locking tab grooves will snugly engage said further tongue means when said locking tab is swung forwardly against said rear face of said back panel.
 2. The drawer element of claim 1 wherein said back panel, when in its upstanding assembled position, has a pair of vertically spaced rearwardly projecting ribs between which said locking tab is snugly received when in its assembled position.
 3. In a one-piece molded plastic drawer element including rear, bottom and two opposite side panels initially formed as a single flat coplanar panel of rigid molded plastic having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections, said rear panel being integrally joined with said bottom panel by a thin-walled flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the rear transverse edge of said bottom panel with the lower transverse edge of said rear panel, and said side panels being integrally joined with the respective sides of said Bottom panel by a thin-wall flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the respective longitudinal side edges of said bottom panel with the longitudinal lower edges of said side panels, the improved means for interlocking said panels to each other in their mutually perpendicular functional position comprising: a locking tab integrally formed with each of the side panels and joined to the rear edge thereof by a thin-wall flexible hinge line extending transversely of the side panels when the side panels are in their initial flat coplanar position; each of said locking tabs having first connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof; each of the side panels having second connector means integrally formed in the inside face thereof and adjacent the rear edge thereof; the rear panel having third connector means integrally formed on each lateral edge thereof, and fourth connector means integrally formed on the underside thereof adjacent each lateral edge thereof; said second and third connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, when the side and rear panels are pivoted upwardly relative to the bottom panel about their respective hinge lines to their mutually perpendicular functional positions, said second and third connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a first connection to retain the panels in their functional position; said first and fourth connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, following the making of said first connection, said locking tabs may be pivoted about their respective hinge lines to a position against and behind the rear panel at which point said first and fourth connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a second connection to retain the panels in their functional positions.
 4. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein said first, second, third and fourth connector means comprise tongue and groove type connectors.
 5. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein the rear panel is provided with vertically spaced projections between which said locking tabs snugly fit when fully connected to the rear panel, said projections preventing pivotal movement of the side panel relative to the bottom panel until said locking tab is first removed from therebetween.
 6. The drawer element of claim 3 wherein the rear panel has reinforcing flanges integrally formed therewith along the lower and side edges of the inside face thereof, said flanges being perpendicular to the plane of the rear panel and rigidly non-pivotable with respect thereto, said flanges being positioned to engage the inner faces of the bottom and side panels in their functional position to act as bearing surfaces and stops for such panels.
 7. In a one-piece molded plastic drawer element including rear, bottom and two opposite side panels initially formed of a single flat coplanar panel of rigid molded plastic having substantial fatigue resistance in thin sections, said rear panel being integrally joined with said bottom panel by a thin-walled flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the rear transverse edge of said bottom panel with the lower transverse edge of said rear panel, and said side panels being integrally joined with the respective sides of said bottom panel by a thin-wall flexible hinge line interconnecting at least a portion of the respective longitudinal side edges of said bottom panel with the longitudinal lower edges of said side panels, the improved means for interlocking said panels to each other in their mutually perpendicular functional position comprising: a locking tab integrally formed with each of the side panels and joined to the rear edge thereof by a thin-wall flexible hinge line extending transversely of the side panels when the side panels are in their initial flat coplanar position; the rear panel being provided with reinforcing flanges integrally formed therewith along the lower and side edges of the inside face thereOf, said flanges being perpendicular to the plane of the rear panel and rigidly non-pivotable with respect thereto; each of said locking tabs having first connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof; each of the side panels having second connector means integrally formed on the inside face thereof and adjacent the rear edge thereof; the rear panel having third connector means integrally formed on the outer face of each of said side reinforcing flanges, and further having fourth connector means integrally formed on the underside thereof adjacent each lateral edge thereof; said second and third connector means being dimensioned and positioned so that, when the side and rear panels are pivoted upwardly relative to the bottom panel about their respective hinge lines to their mutually prependicular functional positions, said second and third connector means will engage and interlock with each other to form a first connection to retain the panels in their functional positions; said reinforcing flanges being positioned to engage the inner faces of the bottom and side panels in their functional position to act as bearing surfaces and stops for such panels; and the rear panel being further provided with vertically spaced projections between which said locking tab snugly fits when fully connected to the rear panel, said projections preventing pivotal movement of the side panel relative to the bottom panel until said locking tab is first removed from therebetween.
 8. The drawer element of claim 7 wherein said first, second, third and fourth connector means comprise tongue and groove type connectors. 